 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Reese Oller
Date: 2022-09-20 04:09
Hello! So, recently I have been expanding my usage of the Bb soprano, Eb sopranino, and the BBb contrabass clarinet (I'm a bass clarinetist primarily), and I find that it's really helped my understanding of the clarinet sound overall. I wanted to know what others' experiences with them all have been! Advice is very welcome, my cheeks hurt after playing Eb!
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2022-09-20 05:40
I played a lot of Eb decades ago. I miss that. Really enjoyed it. I think I found it easier to play faster if that makes sense...Fingers closer together maybe. Or maybe just in my head.
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Author: Reese Oller
Date: 2022-09-21 21:16
Good to know. Also, I noticed something very interesting today. I was quite absent-minded, and I put my Eb reed on my Bb clarinet, and my Bb on the Eb. They both played fine for like 5 minutes before I noticed!
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Author: kdk
Date: 2022-09-21 21:40
Reeds made for Eb clarinet are primarily shorter than Bb reeds. I'm surprised you got the Bb reed seated on the Eb mouthpiece without having the bottom overlap the top barrel ring.
Lots of players use Bb reeds on their Eb clarinets, but they generally have to cut the butt end (with the bark on it) shorter to fit above the barrel.
Your cheek pain may suggest that you tend to let your cheeks puff out slightly for bass. Or that you're just using more pressure. The mouthpiece circumference and reed aperture are obviously smaller on Bb, so you may be working harder to close around the smaller mouthpiece. Practice for short time periods with rest in between. The pain should stop.
Karl
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Author: Reese Oller
Date: 2022-09-21 22:44
Okay, thanks. I've been really pushing myself to get to the level I am on bass and soprano, but maybe I should let off a bit. Not many people in my school like the Eb, but my principal (or should I say the soprano clarinet principal) tolerates it. It's certainly possible I puff out my cheeks for lower chalumaeux register on bass.
Reese Oller
Clarinet student (performance major at Millikin University)
I can play bass clarinet, Eb clarinet, BBb contra, alto saxophone, bassoon at a decent level, and flute in a pinch.
Post Edited (2022-09-21 22:46)
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Author: kdk
Date: 2022-09-21 22:57
Reese Oller wrote:
> Not many people in my school like the Eb, but my principal
> (or should I say the soprano clarinet principal) tolerates it.
I'm always a little puzzled whenever I read comments like this one here on the BBoard. It sometimes seems as if the "Principal Clarinet" of school bands carries some kind of authority in the band. Does your band's principal clarinetist's feeling about the Eb clarinet really matter? How does he or she show this toleration, and more to the point, why?
There *is* a band director or conductor involved, isn't there?
Karl
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Author: Reese Oller
Date: 2022-09-21 23:13
Our principal chair clarinet is responsible for tuning and interpretation (to a point) of music for the clarinets. She is very responsible, and friendly, as well. She plays the Eb clarinet a bit, and sounds very good on it, but doesn't use or practice it until absolutely necessary. Our director is obviously the one with the final say, except in the clarinet choir I formed (in which she plays Eb). I don't know if she carries actual authority in the concert band, but certainly in the marching band she does. She is second to the Drum Majors, who answer to our director.
Reese Oller
Clarinet student (performance major at Millikin University)
I can play bass clarinet, Eb clarinet, BBb contra, alto saxophone, bassoon at a decent level, and flute in a pinch.
Post Edited (2022-09-26 23:54)
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